Rail anchor



Je 24' 1924. 3,4%722 W. DUNN I RAI-L ANcHol Filed Aug. 27.' 1923 lil Patented dune 24, 1924i.

if. S T T S 1,498,721 PATENT OFFICE.

GORDON W. DUNN, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THE P @n M COM'.-v PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed August 27, 1923. Serial No. 659,583.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GORDON W. DUNN, a British subject, residing at Montreal, Province of Quebec, and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Anchors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rail anchors of the type comprising a clamping member in the form of a casting or other fairly low grade metal, and a cooperating spring so mounted in relation to the clamping member as to be quite materially distorted upon the application of the anchor to the rail for which it is designed. It is the principal object of my invention to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of parts in such a device as to provide the desired gripping effect, and at the same time to take care of the expansion and contraction due to temperature changes; the clamping member being preferably of a form practically to enclose the spring and to hold the spring in position without the use of additional securing means; and the metal of the clamping member being distributed so as best to carry the load therethrough from the rail to the tie. It is another object of my inven` tion to provide such a construction and arrangement of parts as will serve to skew the anchor horizontally with respect to the rail for maintaining a constant ratiol of pressures on the several gripping portions of the anchor, as the pressure between the tie and the rail is increased.

It is one of the objects of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry de tails hereinafter pointed out. rlhe preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accoming the device in position upon a rail.

` Fig. 4 is a view of the parts shown in 3 as, seen from the left 'in said figure,

with the device in position adjacent to a cross tle.

And, Fig. 5 is a view of the'device as seen posed strengthening ribs 15, the upper rib 15 merging into a jaw 16 projecting over the end portions of the bars 10 and 11 beyond the head 13. At the. opposite end, the bars 10 and 11 are joined by a short bar 17 which is located between ribs 18 and 19 forming extensions of the bars 10 and 11, respectively. At their upper ends the ribs 18 and 19 terminate in shoulders 20 and 21.

As is best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a vertically extending rib or bar 22 is provided between the cross bars 10 and 11, such rib or bar 22 being formed integrally with the web 12. At the end of the device, corner plates 23 and 24 are provided, as is best shown in Fig. 2, being formed integrally with the end portions of the cross bars 10 and 11, with the end portions of the short I bar 1.7, and with the end portions of the ribs 13 and 19. These corner plates have their under faces located at a slightly higher level than that of the upper edge of the rib or bar 22, the rib and plates forming Vbearings adapted normally to hold a bar 25 in position with one end underneath the plates and with the other end extending above the level of the cross bars l0 and 11, preferably in close proximity to the under face of the jaw 16. With the bar 25 in such position, the longitudinal movement 0f the bar toward the right in Fig. 1 is limited by the plate 17. The dimensions are preferably such as to permit the bar 25 to be inserted only by the application of a limited amount of pressure on the end of the bar for overcoming the friction in forcing it past the edges of the plates 23 and 24, this having the result of preventing the bar normally from falling out of engagement with the body or shoe.

In the construction shown, the bar 25 is designed to be formed preferably ot spring steel so as to-exert a very considerable upward pressure at its left hand end when such end of the spring is forced downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3. The proportions of the `parts are designed to be such, however, as to permit of the displacement of the end o the spring to the point indicated in Fig. 3 without danger of permanent distortion of the spring. lnasmuch as a high grade steel can be used to advantage in the bar 25, it will be appreciatedthat the vpermissible displacement and the resultingY upward pressure may be made substantially as great as may be desired, this result being attained without unduly increasing the cost ot the device as a whole, in view of the simplicity olf the structure, the bar 25 being preferably only a straight bar which can be produced at a minimum cost.

lVith-the device in the condition as shown in Fig. l, with. one end of th-e bar 25 inserted beneath the corner plates 23, and 2d, theV device is placed. in transverse position across the bottom face ot a rail, as 26, preterably adjacent to one ofthe cross ties 27. lVith-tlie jaw i6 engaging the edgeoiR the flange or the rail at the lett,r as shown in Fig. 3, thedevice is driven into the operative position as illustrated in that gure. is will be readily understood, the upstand ing ribs i8 and 19 at the right and the upwardly extending end ot the spring 25 at the lett oppose the ready application of the deviceto the rail. 'lhe spring 25, however,

adapted to yield downwardly upon the application ot suelent force, and the Jaw 1G is also adapted to yield slightly Yt'or proriding theV necessary distortion for permitting the shoulders 250 and 2l to snap past the` edge ot the flange olf the rail at the right in said 3. The cross bar ll in the construction shown is provided with a downward extension 28 in position to contact with the adjacent tace oi' the cross tie 2T, such extension 2S beir preferably located slightly out ot c position so as unit of a limited s lng of the device horitontally with respect to a rail upon the ilication of the heaifiest pressures to h the device is subjected under traiiic dition asoY o t' the extension 28 being lo* sl-'ght distan-ce trom the central pressure is distributed. in both. ections to both ends of the shoe or body r 'her than being tnmsferred to one end on'y of the device as would be the'tendency it such extension were located at one end only. "So tar l ani aware, l am the lirst in the to so arrange the abutment meinber of an anchor as to provide a dei'inite unbalanced strain uponthe.opposite ends of an anchor, the arrangement being such that inserat as the pressure between the tie and the rail increases the pressures atl the opposite ends of the anchor likewise increase in the same "roportion with respect to the total pressure and at the same ratio withrespect to each other.

As will be appreciated from an inspection of the drawing, the pressure of the spring is appliedin a downward direction upon the jaw inasmuch as this spring pressure may. be made just as strong as may be desired, itwill be appreciated that there is very. considerable margin ol variation permissible inthe dimensions ofthe device or in the dimensions of the rail base without there being any danger that the device cannot be tightenedupon the rail. lt will also be appreciated that as pressure is applied to the shoe or body of the device through the extension 28 so` as to cause the shoe to cant lengthwise ot the rail by turning slightly in clockwise direction in Fig. Il, tor applying pressure upon the top and bottom faces of the flange, or so as to cause the shoe to shew horizontally with respect to the rail for applying pressureupon the side faces of the. base at the opposite sides. such movement ot' the body will have a very slight eilect upon the spring 25, even though very excessive pressure be applied upon the body lor producing such gripping effect. ln case the casting. becomes elongated or otherwise distorted slightly through long usage under heavy trallic conditions, the body will still be capable of being moved into its etfective gripping position for withstanding the heaviest pressures, andthe spring` will still continue to hold the device normally in a desired tightened condition. when such extremeheavy pressures are` absent. In the same way, the spring 25 will hold the body normally in proper position under any or dinary conditions of expansion or contraction.

By my invention, lhave provided a two part anchor comprising a main portion in the form of a malleable .iron casting, and a smaller portion in the form ot a spring bar, the arrangement being such that the two parts can readily and quickly be assembled tor shipment, andY such that in use the casting member substantially encloses the spring member so as to protect itffroni injury. By my arrangement of Parts, in which a spring is employed formed entirely independently of the shoe or body ot the anchor, and adapted to takecare of expansion andcontraction .of the device. to compensate 'tor stretching of the casting in use, and further to compensate for the irregularities inthe dimensions ofthe rail base which would otherwise make the device very dii'li'cultfto tit properly .upon the rail, practically all ogt .the stresses are distributed through the casting member and have no lll@ lilo' ilo tendency to crystallze or otherwise unduly age the spring steel portion. The result is that the device is capable of use for a very long period without material deterioration.

By reason of my improved construction, in which the spring 25 is substantially enclosed within the heavy shoe comprising the major portion of the anchor, the appli"- cation of the anchor to a rail mai,v be effected without danger to the operator. In case the anchor is subjected to such excessive pressure in its application to the rail as to cause a fracture, such fracture will of course take place in the malleable iron portion rather than in the spring steel por tion. Such a fracture taking place in the low grade metal portion will ordinarily be much less serious from the standpoint of flying fragments than in the case of a fracture of a high grade spring steel part.

While I prefer to embody my device in the form illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the particular form shown except so far as the same is specifically claimed, inasmuch as it is evident that various changes might be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim l. A rail anchor comprising a substantially rigid shoe in the form of a bar adapted to extend across the bottom face of a rail in contact therewith, having a jaw at one end adapted to grip the base flange, and having a shoulder at the other end adapted to engage the outer face of the base ange at the opposite side of the rail, and a heavy spring formed separately from the shoe and carried thereby, adapted to press said jaw downwardly upon the upper face of the base ange.

Q. A rail anchor comprising a substantially rigid shoe in the form of a bar adapted to extend across the bottom face-of a rail in contact therewith, having a jaw at one end adapted to grip the base flange, and having a shoulder at the other end adapted to engage the outer face of the base 'Bange at the opposite side of the rail, and a heavy bar spring formed separately from the shoe and supported by the shoe adjacent to said shoulder and extending therefrom longitudinally of the shoe with its free end extending normally into close proximity to the under face of said whereby when the anchor is applied to a rail the spring by leverage on the shoe causes the jaw to exert a heavy downward pressure on the top face of the flange.

3. A rail anchor comprising a substantially rigid shoe in the form of a bar adapted to extend across the bottom face of a rail in Contact therewith, having a liaw at one end adapted to grip the base flange,

and having a shoulder at the other end adapted to engage the outer face of the base ange at the opposite side of the rail, spaced bearings carried by said bar, aheavy spring formed separately from the shoe and supported loosely at one end by said bearings with the opposite end normally extending into close proximity to the under face of said jaw, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the spring in a direction away from the jaw.

l. A rail anchor comprising a ysubst-antially rigid shoe in the form of a bar adapted to extend across the bottom face of a rail in contact therewith, having a at one end adapted to grip the base flange, and having a shoulder at the other end adapted to engage the outer face of the base flange at the opposite side of the rail, spaced bearings carried by said bar, a heavy spring formed separately from the shoe and supported loosely at one end by said bearings with the opposite end normally extending into close proximity to the under face of said aw, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the spring in a direction away from the jaw, the dimensions of the parts being such that said spring is normally held against withdrawal from the shoe.

5. A rail anchor comprising a substantially rigid shoe in the form of a bar adapted to extend across the bottom face of a rail in contact therewith, having a jaw at one end adapted to grip the base flange, and having a shoulder at the other end adapted to engage the outer face of the base flange at the opposite side of the rail, a bearing in the form of a rib extending at an angle with respect to said bar, a heavy spring formed separately from the shoe and supported by said bearing, and a second bearing in spaced relation to said rib in posi-- tion to receive the end of the spring beneath it for holding the spring in position with the free end of the spring extending normally above the upper edge of the bar below said jaw.

G. A rail anchor comprising a substantially rigid shoe in the form of abar adapted to extend across the bottom face of a rail inl contact therewith, having a liaw at one end adapted to grip the base fiange, and having'a shoulder at the other end adapted to engage the outer face of the base flange at the opposite side of the rail, a bearing in the form of a rib extending at an vangle with respect to said bar, a heavy spring formed separately from the shoe and supported by said bearing, and a second bear ingin the form of two horizontally disposed plates in spaced relation to each other and in spaced relation to said rib, with their adjacent edges converging towards the end of the anchor, said second bearing being in position to receive the end of the spring beneath itE tor holding the spring' in position, with the free end of the spring eX- tending normally above the upper edge ot the bar below said jaw.

'7. A rail anchor comprising a substantiall;T rigid shoe in the torni ot a bar adaptd to extend across the bottoin face oit a rail in contact therewith, having a jaw at oneend adapted to grip the base flange, and having a shoulder the other end adapted to engage the outer tace otthe base flange at the opposite side ofthe raih a bearing in the torni of arib extending at an angle with respect to said bar a heavy separately troni the shoe and supported by said bearing, second bearing in the torni ot two horizontally disposed plates in spaced relation to each other and in spaced relation to said irst named bearing with their adjacent edges converging toward the end oic the anchor, said second bearing being in position to receive the end of the spring beneath it for holding the spring in position with the :tree endot' the spring standing noinialli1 above the upper edge oi" the bar below said jaw, and ineans Ator limiting the noveinent of the spring lonO'itudinallyv in the direction away troni the Jaw7 said aw being in such position with respect to the bearing plates that the spring is capable ot being withdrawn troni the shoe onlyT when centered between the plates and when subjected to a noininal pressure 'for overcoming the friction between the bar and the bearing plates i rail anchor comprising a substantialljyv rigid shoe in the torni oi a bar adapted to entend across the bottoni tace of aY rail in contact therewith, having a jaw at one end disposed at right angles with respect to the bar for gripping the baseY flanger and having a shoulder at the other end also at right angles with respect to the bar, for engaging the outer tace ofthe base rianne at the opposite side oit the rail7 and a heavy spring t'oriued separately troni the shoe and carried thereby? adapted to press said jaw downwardly upon the upper tace oithe base flange.

9. A rail anchor comprising a substan` tially rigid slice having two bars in spaced relatioin a jaw at one end adapted to grip the base iiange ot a raih a shoulder at the other end adapted to engage the outer face ofthe base flange at the opposite side of the railn and a heavifv spring 'formed separatelyy 'troni the shoe supported at one end in posi" tion between said two bars with its tree end extending normally above the upper edges oiLx Lees lei the bars in position to be displaced upon the' ion of the anchor to a rail.'

rail anchor comprising a substair tiall); rigid' shoeV in the torni ot a Vfasting having two bars in spaced relation with a web connective' the' bars, a head iornied on the ends oi the nare and havinfg; a jaw adapan ed' to engi the upper tace t' the base liange ot" a rail between the bars,y shoulder at the other end oi the anchor adapted to engage the outer 'tace ot the vflange at the opposite side or' the rail, and spring incase stressed by the application of the anchor to a rail adapted to cause the jaw to press downwardly upon the. opper tace oi the flange.

li. A rail anchor comprising a substantially rigid shoe in the torni ot a casting having two bars in spaced relation with a web connecting the bars, a head 'forined on the ends ot the bars lor providing aljaw adapted to engage the upper face ot' the 'tiange of a rail between the bars and hamng strengthening ribs inerging with the jaw and said barsi a shoulder at' the other end oi` the anchor adapted to engage the outer tace ci the vflange at the opposite side oi? the rail. andspring nieans stressed bf.' the application of the anchor to therail adapted to cause the jaw to press downwardlj,v uponthe upper tace of the 'fl-ange.

l@ rail anchor coinprising a substanid shoe in the forni ot a bar adaptextend across the bottoni tace ot a rail tact therewith,l having a jaw at one in coi. endadapted to grip the base flange of the rail and having a shoulder at the other end adapted to engage the outer 'lace of the Harige at the opposite side ot the rail, and u downward extension on said bar in posi tion to engage a cross tie, being located slightly out ot central position for producing a limited sliewing or thel anchor lorizontilhv with respect to the rail.

13. i rail anchor comprising a substant-iallif1 rigid shoe in the torni of a bar adapt ed to extend across the bottoni tace of a rail in contact therewith, having a jaw at one end adapted to grip the base flange ot the rail and having a shoulder at the other end adapted to engage the outer. tace of the frange at the opposite side oit the rail5 and a downward extension on said bar in Yposition to engage cross tie, being located only slightl;7 out of centralposition with respect to the aw and the shonlder for distributing the pressure through the anchor to both ends'thereot at a constant ratio as such pressure varies under service conditions.

GORDGN W. DUNN. 

